Launching her maiden voyage in July of 2008, the ms Eurodam marks Holland America Line's new Signature-class ships. The ms Eurodam furthers the evolution of our sophisticated mid-sized ships with 11 passenger decks, a new topside Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge surrounded by panoramic views, an Explorer's Lounge bar, a new Italian restaurant adjacent to the Lido, elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge and a new photographic and imaging center. On the technical side, the ms Eurodam features the latest state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems. The ship is powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod propulsion technology.

Guests on the ms Eurodam will be able to "show and tell" their vacation memories through the Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Free workshops led by Microsoft-trained "techsperts" will show even the most novice camera or computer user how to take better vacation photos, make movies, edit pictures and create scrapbooks using a variety of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services. Guests will learn how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and social networking - so friends and family can see where they've been cruising even before they return home.

Following in the Holland America Line tradition, the ms Eurodam features an exquisite art collection based on the theme, "The Dutch Golden Age - An Inexhaustible Tradition". Highlighting works by Dutch masters and contemporary artists, some of the pieces featured will include 17th-century watercolor maps by famed cartographer Johannes Vingboons, photo-realistic oil paintings by artist Jan van 't Hoff and The Nightwatch, Two Minutes Later, a contemporary reinterpretation of Rembrandt's famous painting.

On Deck 1, the officers who provide onboard services, the shore excursions department and a future cruises sales agent are located near the rather sterile atrium bar.

The real fun on Eurodam is the cluster of public rooms on Decks 2 and 3. That's where you'll find the fantastic, Food Network-like Culinary Arts Center; a mall-like stretch of shops carrying the usual cruise souvenirs, with an extra-heavy selection of pricey jewelry; the 55-seat cinema; a photo gallery; and an art auction display space. There are also several meeting rooms, as well as a private, group dining room that's adjacent to The Rembrandt.

Tucked away on Deck 11 is the Explorations Cafe, and it's a destination in its own right. This concept, which debuted on the line's Vista-class ships (and has since been expanded to other vessels in the fleet), aims to create a coffee house ambience in space carved out from the Crow's Nest Bar. There, you'll find a coffee bar selling for-fee beverages, card and game tables, a library that's one of the best in cruising and really comfortable reading chairs that face out to the sea.

It's also the locale for the ship's Internet-connected computers. The cost is 75 cents per minute; heavy users can get a discount on packages (ranging from 100 minutes for $55 to 1,000 minutes for $250).

What's also nice about Explorations' location in the Crow's Nest is that the typically evening-only space really jumps all day long, as well.

Eurodam's main pool is among the most beautiful at sea. It's decorated in muted earth tones with captivating brown and cream tiles and brown wickerlike chaises with plush, plum-colored cushions. Instead of the marine sculptures that populate most pool areas on Holland America's ships, this one has a colorful waterfall fountain. Beyond the pool, there's a jumbo whirlpool and a pair of smaller ones.

This ship has two levels of cabanas. On the pool deck itself, curtained cabanas line one windowed wall. Inside each is a chaise-for-two and small table. Extras include handheld fans, bottled water, Evian spritzers and towels and/or wool blankets. The fee -- $30 for port days, $50 at sea -- permits occupancy between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (You rent for the day.) It also includes lunch service from the cabana menu. Choices include various panini sandwiches, burgers and salads. Glasses of Champagne, afternoon tea and chocolate-covered strawberries are offered, and cabana stewards will fetch cocktails, though you'll be charged for them.

While these are primarily aimed at couples looking to carve out a distinctive pool experience, the cabanas are also fantastic for families, offering a private space so kids can play (and nap) while parents enjoy the pool scene. One downside (and the reason why small fans are provided) is that, while the cabanas have full floor-to-roof windows, there's little air circulation.

One deck above is The Retreat, another cabana community, and it's even nicer than the poolside option. There, designers have carved out a deck for cabanas that are open to sea air, and the area also offers a Miami Beach-like outdoor lounge with extra couches, arm chairs and dining tables. Standards (costing $45 on port days, $75 on sea days) feature two chaise lounges and a small table. Corner units ($65 and $115, respectively) are by far the largest, featuring twin chaises and a double lounger along with a larger table and extra chairs. All receive the same services as cabana inhabitants a deck below.

Eurodam's second major pool is located aft. The Sea View is my favorite for a few reasons. There's plenty of deck space with a view of open sea and the wake, and the Cote d'Azur-style cabana hangings give it a festive air. (There are no private units in this pool area.) It's also blissfully peaceful – it's reserved for adults.

Both the Lido Pool and the Sea View are located adjacent to the Lido buffet. The former is home to the Dive In at the Terrace Grill, while the latter features Slice Pizza. Both have bars. It's quite easy to while away a day on the pool deck without having to move too far.

At the very front of the ship, the Greenhouse Spa is a sprawling complex adjacent to the main pool area and offers all the usual services, such as massages, facials and pedicures.

In addition to a near-daily array of changing discounts for combination treatments, the Spa offers discounts of 10 percent from its prices for booking one treatment, 20 percent for booking two, and 30 percent for booking three.

The ship's fitness center features circuit-training machines and free weights. Among the classes offered are yoga, Pilates and indoor cycling, among others. Most require passengers to pay a fee of $12 per class or three classes for $30. Also, a cardio-centric Boot Camp of 45 to 50 minutes is $60 for two sessions.

Club HAL is Holland America's fleetwide program for kids, and its facilities and programs are divided into three categories: 3 to 7, 8 to 12 and 13 to 17. All groups are clustered in the same space on Deck 10 and offer age-appropriate settings. (The 3 to 7 room, for instance, really evokes a kindergarten-type playroom, while the Loft, for teens, is all slouchy couches and tables for hanging out.) A for-fee video arcade is also included in the mix.

Other onboard activities are free.

The program is pretty quiet during port days, though activities pick up after dinnertime. After 10 p.m., fees apply for the 3 to 7 and 8 to 12 age groups. For teens, after-dinner games on the schedule include air hockey and dodgeball, though I did see a big pack of kids roaming the halls rather aimlessly.

All in all, the facilities seemed capable of handling the 275 kids (a good chunk of whom were teens) in an efficient manner, though Eurodam doesn't possess some of the state-of-the-art recreational facilities and enrichment programs offered by other big-ship lines.

Boarding

Gangways are wide enough to accommodate most wheelchairs and scooters.

Restrooms

There are accessible public restrooms.

Decks

All decks have elevator access.

Food & Beverage

All dining and bar venues are accessible.

Recreational Facilities

Lower playing tables in Casino

Wheelchair seating in the Mainstage Lounge

Cinema

Jogging Track (Promenade Deck)

Volleyball Court

Basketball Court

Spa & Fitness Center

Dry treatment room

Fitness equipment

Sauna

Changing Room

Restroom

Other Features

Lowered counter at Guest Relations

Tender Lift System

Amplified Phones

Assistive listening system in the Mainstage Lounge

Beauty Salon

Art & Photo Gallery

Card Room

Internet Café

Window Eyes computer software

Library

Service Dogs Permitted, at least 45 days advance notice requested.

Large Print or Braille menus (with prior request)

Guided tour of ship during embarkation (with prior request)

Closed captioning is available on television programming however, please note that some satellite feeds do not transmit with captioning, so this feature is available only when the signal the ship received has captioning.

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For a limited time only, book your Holland America Line cruise with us and enjoy our gift to you - $50 FREE Spending Money per stateroom!

Call 1-800-565-2784 and speak to an Alaska CruiseExperts Specialist for full details!

Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

For a limited time only, book your Holland America Line Cruise or Cruisetour with us and enjoy our gift to you – Up to $200 FREE Onboard Credit & Onboard Value Booklet per couple!

Cruise-Only

- 7-Nights: Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- 14-Nights: Up to $150 Onboard Credit

- Onboard Value Booklet

Denali Land+Sea Journeys (D1-D8)

- Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- $50 Denali Dollars

- Onboard Value Booklet

Yukon Land+Sea Journeys (Y1-Y5)

- Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- $100 Denali Dollars

- Onboard Value Booklet

Call 1-800-565-2784 and speak to an Alaska CruiseExperts Specialist for full details!

Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion.Promotion is per stateroom, based on double occupancy. Onboard Spending Money and Denali Dollars may be used on a single cruise only, are non-refundable, not for cash value, expires at the end of that cruise, and may not be used in the casino. Other restrictions may apply. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice.

For a limited time only, book your Holland America Line cruise with us and enjoy our gift to you - $50 FREE Spending Money per stateroom!

Call 1-800-565-2784 and speak to an Alaska CruiseExperts Specialist for full details!

Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

For a limited time only, book your Holland America Line Cruise or Cruisetour with us and enjoy our gift to you – Up to $200 FREE Onboard Credit & Onboard Value Booklet per couple!

Cruise-Only

- 7-Nights: Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- 14-Nights: Up to $150 Onboard Credit

- Onboard Value Booklet

Denali Land+Sea Journeys (D1-D8)

- Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- $50 Denali Dollars

- Onboard Value Booklet

Yukon Land+Sea Journeys (Y1-Y5)

- Up to $100 Onboard Credit

- $100 Denali Dollars

- Onboard Value Booklet

Call 1-800-565-2784 and speak to an Alaska CruiseExperts Specialist for full details!

Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion.Promotion is per stateroom, based on double occupancy. Onboard Spending Money and Denali Dollars may be used on a single cruise only, are non-refundable, not for cash value, expires at the end of that cruise, and may not be used in the casino. Other restrictions may apply. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice.

For a limited time only, book your Holland America Line cruise with us and enjoy our gift to you - $50 FREE Spending Money per stateroom!

Call 1-800-565-2784 and speak to an Alaska CruiseExperts Specialist for full details!

Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Other restrictions may apply.